Topic
18 facts from 2 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1960s
Bill Bowerman first proposed a 50-50 partnership with Phil Knight in Blue Ribbon Sports, then returned with his lawyer to propose 51-49 in Knight's favor.
“I think originally Bowerman says 50-50 and then he sleeps on it and he comes back with his lawyer and he says, actually, let's do 51-49.”
1962
Phil Knight went to Stanford Graduate School of Business straight after his Oregon undergraduate degree and graduated in 1962.
“So, after Phil graduates, he goes to business school right after undergrad to Stanford, to Stanford GSB, hence the connection. He graduates from GSB in 1962.”
1962
Phil Knight's Stanford research paper argued that Japanese running shoes could do to Adidas what Japanese cameras did to German cameras.
“Thus, I argued in my paper that Japanese running shoes might do the same thing.”
1965
In 1965, recreational running was not considered a sport and runners were often mocked.
“In fact, in 1965, running wasn't even a sport. To go out for a three mile run was something weirdos did, presumably to burn off manic energy.”
1965
Phil Knight told Jeff Johnson in 1965 that Blue Ribbon owed its bank $11,000 and had negative cash flow.
“Though our growth has been good, I owe our bank $11,000 and cash flow is negative.”
1969
Phil Knight quit his teaching job at Portland State University in 1969 and went full time at Blue Ribbon for $18,000 a year.
“I quit Portland State and went full time at my company, paying myself a salary of 18,000 a year.”
1970s
Phil Knight created the Futures Program, giving retailers a 7% discount for paying for orders six months in advance.
“if you commit and pay for your orders six months in advance, Blue Ribbon will give you a 7% discount.”
1980
After Nike's IPO, Phil Knight owned 46% of the company.
“So when they went public, after the IPO, Phil owned 46% of the company and was overnight one of the richest people in America.”
Undated
Phil Knight's father, Bill Knight, was a former Portland lawyer and the publisher of the Oregon Journal newspaper.
“He was a former lawyer in Portland and he's the publisher of the Oregon Journal newspaper.”
Undated
Nike began when a Japanese company sent twelve pairs of running shoes to Phil Knight, then in his twenties and living at home.
“it starts out with one Japanese company sending a kid in his twenties, still living at home, twelve pairs of running shoes.”
Undated
Phil Knight's mother bought a pair of his Japanese running shoes for $7 to show support against his father's criticism.
“She would open up, she opened up her purse, took out $7 and said, I'd like to purchase one pair, please.”
Undated
For its first seven or eight years, Phil Knight's company Blue Ribbon only sold other brands' shoes imported from Japan.
“For the first seven or eight years, they're just selling other people's brands and other people's shoes, importing them from Japan.”
Undated
Phil Knight used his army reserve uniform to get free military flights to California to recruit salesmen.
“Seeing the uniform, the MPS would wave me on to the next military transport to San Francisco or Los Angeles, no questions asked.”
Undated
An employee's family loan of $8,000 to Nike, converted to stock, was worth $1.6 million at the IPO according to the host.
“when Nike IPOs, Phil Knight converted that loan to stock, and that 8,000 was worth 1.6 million.”
Undated
Phil Knight told staff the company had $2 million in sales the previous year, none from Onitsuka, when the supplier cut them off.
“We posted $2 million in sales last year, none of which had anything to do with Onitsuka.”
Undated
As a youth Phil Knight refused to quit badminton against his cousin until he won, after losing 115 straight games.
“one summer we played exactly 116 games. Why 116? Because my cousin beat me 115 straight times.”
Undated
According to the host, one of Phil Knight's sons, Matthew, died in a drowning accident in his twenties.
“One of his sons is going to die tragically when he's in his twenties in a drowning accident.”
Undated
After Nike's public offering, Phil Knight was worth $178 million.
“Nothing had changed, least of all me, and yet I was worth $178 million.”
Episodes